Warm-ups
 

I was R2 at a college men's match on Saturday evening and had question arise concerning warm-ups. In EIVA matches, warm-up time is visitors-8 minutes, home-8, visitors-8, and home-8. During the first 8 minutes for visitors, the home team did some ball-handling off the court.

The visitors' assistant coach said that it was against the rules for the opponent to warm up using balls (anywhere in the gym) during a team's allotted court time. The R1 had stepped out to use the facilities and I was unsure of the rule. I knew it was not permitted at women's matches but didn't recall any prohibition in men's matches.

My one line judge was a national referee and he said that there was no rule prohibiting opponents from warming up with balls during a team's court time. He said that collegiate men use USAV rules which do not prohibit warming up, as long as it is in a non-playable area.

As the discussion continued, the R1 returned and the assistant coach continued to plead his case. The R1 went over and had a brief discussion with the coach of the home team and they agreed to not warm up with balls while the visitors had the court.

I work about 7-10 men's college matches each year as line judge or referee but I can't honestly remember if I have seen teams warming up with balls while the other team had the court. If I had to guess, I would say that they have and nobody ever said a word. Just curious if this has ever been an issue with anyone else.

It all depends on the league/conference as to what rules have been adopted and/or modified. For example, although USAV plays sets to 25, the DI men have opted to play non-deciding sets to 30 (wonder how that is going to work when the women switch to 25-point sets next fall).

Best bet is to contact the conference assigner and get a copy of the by-laws that inform everyone what the rules are for that specific conference.

Good Luck!

Most collegiate men play with modified USAV rules. Not sure if the collegiate modifications address this or not, but the collegiate rule is as follows:

If a team is out of the playing area (i.e., in non-playable area), the team may be there, and with no restrictions listed, may ball handle.

For example, a team may ball handle behind the bench area (assuming room exists) as that would be non-playable area. There is nothing that says a team may never ball handle (even in NCAA women's VB) in a non-playable area during a team's exclusive court time.